Chef John Sugimura

John Sugimura fits right in with Taher’s culture with his deep respect towards food and connecting people through food. He is a Japanese-American second-generation professionally trained sushi chef, whose life-long love of sushi blossomed during time spent in Kyoto, Japan. Eating John’s cuisine is like eating in his grandmother’s restaurant in the 1930s. It is the ultimate expression of flavors, colors, and cooking methods, coming together in an authentic experience that is one-of-a kind.

In 1917, his grandparents immigrated in their 20’s to northern California from the Japanese island of Kyushu and the Chubu region. Their dream was to set up permanent residence in the United States to start a family and business. His Japanese immigrant grandparents and their American-born children overcame racial prejudice as they established a restaurant business, contributed to thriving communities and contributed to the state’s prosperity. Most importantly, using food to build community, He is telling the story of the seemingly unbearable with patience, perseverance and dignity. John is also a concept-brand director, and partner at highly rated PinKU Japanese Street Food restaurant in Minneapolis.